LSU's "Fab Five" receiving group push each other to be the best

Michael DeMocker / The Times-Picayune LSU wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. had 41 receptions for 475 yards and two touchdowns as a freshman last season.

The receiving corps, which refers to itself as the "Fab Five," has veteran experience. Senior Russell Shepard and sophomore Odell Beckham combined to catch 55 passes last season, yet they don't consider themselves the primary targets.

"There's no one guy," Shepard said. "Everybody's pushing each other to be the best, and that's one thing I like about this group. Everybody wants to be the greatest ... at the same time we have no 'me' guys.

"The only thing I have on those guys is experience. Besides that, we're all equally talented."

Junior wide receiver James Wright said despite the new nickname, LSU is using more four-wide receiver sets in practice.

Shepard said there's still hope for getting five wideouts on the field.

"We wanted to create some savvy, some swag in the skill group," Shepard said. "We came up with the name. The dream set for the quarterback and receivers is the five-receiver set."

The "Fab Five" didn't exist last season. Rueben Randle had 442 more receiving yards than any other wideout, finishing with 917. Beckham was second with 475 yards.

Randle, 6 feet 4, is an inch taller than any receiver on this season's roster. Wright said this group has enough talent to make up for any deficiencies, be it height or experience.

"The receiving corps is so athletic with speed and athleticism to go up and get the deep ball," Wright said. "We're all physical, and we all can run."

LSU's receivers have made an impact on junior cornerback Tyrann Mathieu early this spring.

"They're pretty good," Mathieu said. "We've got a couple of them who are going to be in the running for some of the best in the country. Our task every day is to get those guys better."

NARROW FOCUS: Mathieu and junior safety Eric Reid both know what they want to concentrate on this spring.

Mathieu said he's working on his man-to-man coverage skills, and Reid is focusing on footwork and getting out of breaks faster.

"That way I can help corners back on deep balls, so they don't feel like they're on an island as much," Reid said.

Reid said footwork is a priority for new defensive backs coach Corey Raymond, who coached Nebraska's secondary last season.

"He's just a technician," Reid said. "He wants your feet to be good. He doesn't want you to waste any steps."

BIG CAT: Although most names and matchups switch during LSU's big cat drill, two players continue to be paired against each other.

Junior safety Craig Loston and sophomore wide receiver Jarrett Fobbs battle each other every time the big cat drill takes place, and trash talk usually ensues after a stalemate.

"I don't know what Coach (Les) Miles likes about it, but as long as it makes me and Fobbs better, that's a good thing," Loston said.

NEW LOOK: Reid said he's not worried about depth on defense, despite losing starters at safety, linebacker and on the defensive line.

"We've still got spring ball and we've still got fall," Reid said. "I think we have the potential to be better than we were last year."

Junior defensive end Barkevious Mingo said he's excited about what sophomore defensive end Jermauria Rasco can bring this season, after recording 17 tackles and two sacks in just nine games last year.

"He played a lot for us last year, and he just keeps on growing and getting better," Rasco said. "I can definitely see him creeping through the depth chart and maybe being that fourth end that we rotate with."